DR1 Racing Announces the DHL Champions Series Fueled by Mountain Dew

Drone racing takes to the skies in the premiere global drone racing series airing on EuroSport and Fox Sports

DR1 Racing, the premiere international drone racing organization, today announced the title sponsors and locations for the upcoming 2017 season airing on Eurosport and Fox Sports internationally. DHL, the global market leader in logistics, has committed itself to become a founding partner in DR1 and the title sponsor of the Champions Series. In addition to DHL, Mountain Dew is returning for a second year as the presenting sponsor, culminating in a new name for the series: DR1 Racing presents the DHL Champions Series fueled by Mountain Dew. As sponsors of DR1’s race circuit, both brands will leverage their motor racing heritage to bring authentic drone racing to a rapidly growing worldwide audience.

DR1 Racing presents the DHL Champions Series fueled by Mountain Dew will be broadcast and streamed in over 100 countries this October and November, in partnership with Eurosport, Fox Sports Asia and Twitch.TV, as well as an upcoming partner in North America, showcasing DR1 racing to the largest audience ever for the sport of drone racing.

The racing series consists of five teams competing in six races in epic outdoor locations around the world, including: the iconic Trona Pinnacles and The Mojave Bone Yard in California, a three-dimensional skyscraper race in Bonn, Germany, Ireland’s historic Bunowen Castle and Spike Island, and concluding with the championship at the scenic Marine Drive on the beautiful Isle of Man.

Joining DHL and Mountain Dew as sponsors of the Champions Series is the Air Hogs brand, makers of the official Air Hogs DR1 Micro Race Drone and Air Hogs DR1 FPV Race Drone, and the US ARMY who will be sponsoring DR1’s Twitch.TV show, “DR1 Drone Tech,” leading into the airing of the series.

“We are thrilled to have DHL come aboard as the title sponsor for our crown jewel in the DR1 Racing circuit,” said DR1 CEO and Founder, Brad Foxhoven. “Along with Mountain Dew, who has been with us since our first race last year, we have established a racing series that truly represents what drone racing really means with epic outdoor racing, elite drone racing teams, and a racing format that creates excitement and engagement for the pilots, viewers and spectators. Both DHL and Mountain Dew have a long history with racing and emerging sports, and their involvement further cements DR1 as the global leader in drone racing.”

Ken Allen, CEO DHL Express, explains the company’s passion for drone racing: “DHL has an extensive history developing innovative and sustainable approaches towards future logistics solutions, including several successful pilot installations of drone technology. Similar to Formula E, drone racing represents an exciting new e-racing series, which is why DHL took the opportunity to engage as the logistics partner and title sponsor for DR1’s premier league racing series.”

Manos Spanos, Senior Director of Global Brand Marketing for Mountain Dew and Energy, stated, “The never-been-done-before is in our DNA, so we are thrilled to partner with DR1 for a second year to bring the fast-action, gamified sport of drone racing to exotic and historic locales across the world, inviting viewers to follow this journey with the amazing drone racing teams, including one of the best in the world, Mtn Dew pilot Luke Bannister.”

Eurosport CEO Peter Hutton said: “We continue to be impressed with the forward-thinking and long-term vision of DR1 and look forward to once again giving fans the opportunity to follow the all the thrills and spills of the competition on all of our platforms. As I mentioned when we first announced the partnership with DR1 last year, we see eSports and its innovations and technology as a fresh way to engage fans and look forward to working with the organization in 2017.”

Luke Bannister, who at 17 is highly regarded as the best drone pilot in world, elated, “I am very excited to be involved with my sponsors Mountain Dew, Air Hogs, and team NEXXBlades in the DR1. This is the opportunity for us to test ourselves against the world’s best pilots in some of the most exciting race locations imaginable.”

Also showcased by the DR1 Racing presents the DHL Champions Series fueled by Mountain Dew is the innovative first person view (FPV) racing drone from Spin Master’s iconic Air Hogs brand. Created for the masses, the Air Hogs DR1 FPV Race Drone and the Air Hogs DR1 Micros Race Drone lets consumers affordably experience first-hand professional drone racing. Both are available nationwide and in Europe this August.

For more information on DR1 Racing’s DHL Championship Series Presented by Mountain Dew, DR1, and drone racing, please see their website at www.DR1racing.tv